HEALTH ENCYCLOPEDIA

How to Quit Smoking

How to Quit Smoking

So, you’ve decided to become a former
smoker? Congratulations! Nearly four out of five smokers want to quit. Every
year, 40 percent of American smokers finally attempt it.

Before you
start, it is important to remember this; research shows that the most success
comes to smokers who use more than one method to fight their cravings and
withdrawals. Despite your best efforts, you may not succeed the first time. But
because you have already committed yourself to quitting, you are one step
closer to being a former smoker.

Start by
researching all your options to find the best strategy for you. You might want
to do this in collaboration with your doctor, because the right thing for you
may require a prescription. It is also wise to have a doctor involved to
monitor you for any side effects or possible complications.

Here are
some of the more common and proven treatment options and why they may be right
for you.

Nicotine-Replacement Patch

Nicotine
patches are available over the counter and are generally easy to use.

How Does It Work?

The patch
is designed to release a steady dose of nicotine throughout the day. As
cravings and withdrawal symptoms decrease, you can begin to reduce the length
of time you wear a patch or switch to a patch with lower dosage strength.
However, if you have sudden cravings or severe symptoms of withdrawal, you may be
left unable to quickly satiate them. The patches are not designed for an
instantaneous shot of nicotine and you cannot smoke with the patch or you risk
nicotine overdose that can cause heart attack and paralysis

Who Should Use the Patch?

Many
people trying to quit can benefit from using the patch. It is simple to use and
easy to apply. Most nicotine replacement patches have been designed to wean
users off very carefully through controlled dosages. But because you won’t be able
to handle intense cravings or symptoms of withdrawal, it might not be the best
option to try first. Many people try other aids at first so they can control
symptoms more immediately.

Nicotine Gum

Nicotine
gums are available over the counter. They work for a great number of people who
are trying to quit. But this is no typical chewing gum.

How Does It Work?

Nicotine
gums must be used in a specified manner in order to work properly. Instead of
chewing endlessly, the gum is chewed for a few minutes and then placed between
your gum and inner cheek for about 30 minutes. You don’t get an endless supply
of chewing gum, either. Instead, you follow a schedule of one piece every one
to two hours. As your cravings subside and the withdrawal symptoms become more
manageable, you can reduce the dosage in the gum or chew less often.

Who Should Use Gum?

People may
choose the nicotine chewing gum because they need to satisfy an oral activity
craving, something an actual cigarette fulfilled. Unlike the patch, the gum can
provide a quick boost of nicotine in the event of severe cravings or withdrawal
symptoms. However, if you follow the schedule, this shouldn’t be a problem. If
you have a hard time keeping track of a schedule or don’t think you would be
able to chew gum on a regular basis (because of work or social commitments),
this may not be the best aid for you.

Nicotine Inhaler

The goal
of all nicotine-replacement therapies is to provide the body with as pure a
form of nicotine as possible without all the carcinogenic additives found in
cigarettes. Many smokers crave the feeling of having smoke in their mouths—something
neither patches nor chewing gum can provide. Enter nicotine inhalers.

How Does It Work?

These
prescription devices work by vaporizing liquid nicotine for you to inhale. The
nicotine is then absorbed in the mouth and throat and delivers a quick nicotine
boost. As the body grows accustomed to less and less nicotine, you will
gradually stop using the inhaler until you’ve fully quit.

Who Should Use Inhalers?

You may be
giving yourself an inhalation treatment six to 16 times a day when you start.
If taking the time out of your schedule to provide this treatment will
complicate work or social schedules, the inhaler may not be for you. The use of
inhalers is also limited due to possible complications and side effects in
sensitive groups—the elderly, women who are pregnant or may become pregnant, and
women who are nursing.

Nicotine Nasal Spray

Similar to
how the nicotine inhaler supplies pure nicotine through the mouth and
esophagus, nicotine nasal spray delivers through the nose.

How Does It Work?

Nasal
sprays use a liquid-to-spray route to make absorbing the nicotine easier. Your
doctor will set up the best dosage plan for you; most suggest one to two doses
per hour. As your cravings decrease, you will work with your doctor to reduce
the number of doses each day until you no longer need the spray at all.

Who Should Use Sprays?

As with
the inhaler, sprays require frequent treatment, and unlike chewing gums, this
treatment is less than discreet. If you will not be able to maintain the
schedule for work or social reasons, a spray may not be the best aid for you.
If you also have complications inhaling medicine through your nose, nasal spray
might not be pleasant or effective for you.

Electronic Cigarette

Electronic
cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, are battery-operated devices shaped
like a traditional cigarette.

How Does It Work?

Users
inhale from e-cigarettes the same way they would traditional cigarettes, but
instead of inhaling nicotine mixed with other potentially dangerous chemicals,
the e-cigarette turns a purer form of liquid nicotine into a vapor. Some people
believe e-cigarettes are safer than traditional cigarettes and prefer to smoke
them; others use e-cigarettes as a nicotine-replacement therapy to quit.

Who Should Use E-Cigarettes?

E-cigarette
makers claim their products are safer than traditional cigarettes, but the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recommend these devices because they
have not been evaluated for safety. (Some individual analyses have shown the
vapor to be toxic and possibly contain carcinogens.) Until more is known about
e-cigarettes, this may not be a safe alternative for people looking to quit.

Prescription Medications

A couple
of drugs have been approved by the FDA for smoking cessation. They do not
contain nicotine, so it is recommended that they be used in conjunction with
nicotine-replacement therapy.

How Does It Work?

Unlike
nicotine-replacement therapies, prescription medicines like bupropion SR
(Zyban, Wellbutrin) or varenicline (Chantix) do not provide your body with
nicotine. Instead, they reduce cravings and lessen withdrawal symptoms by
altering chemicals and nicotine receptors in your brain. Both medicines require
doctor supervision and prescription—many insurance companies pay for
prescription smoking-cessation aids. The FDA also requires that both medicines
carry a black box warning; that’s the strongest safety warning the FDA can
issue about a prescription medication. The reasons for these warnings:
Bupropion may cause suicidal thoughts or behaviors, depression, and hostility.
Patients taking varenicline report increased risk of falls and road accidents,
as well as vision troubles and vivid or unusual dreams.

Who Should Take Medications?

Unlike
with nicotine-replacement therapies, neither of these drugs contains nicotine,
so the risk of nicotine overdose is small. For that reason, you may still be
able to smoke the first few weeks of using these drugs (unless you are also
using a nicotine-replacement therapy at the same time). That is a plus for many
smokers who are trying to quit.

Alternative Therapies

Research
does not always support alternative therapies with hard evidence, but many
former smokers who have used these techniques swear by them. In your quest to
quit, you may find one or more of these helpful. While nicotine-replacement
therapies or prescription medications can subdue your cravings and whittle away
at your withdrawal symptoms, you may find you are still battling the desire to
smoke.

How Do They Work?

Hypnotherapy
or hypnosis may help identify unconscious triggers—things that make your body
crave a cigarette without your understanding the underlying reason, like a time
of day or a certain odor. The therapist may then try to replace your unhealthy
cigarette-smoking response to these triggers with something more healthful.
Acupuncture—a therapy in which tiny needles are used to stimulate certain
points on the body—may help reduce nicotine cravings and ease withdrawal
symptoms. Meditation can help you relax and ease anxiety. Quitting smoking can
be stressful and frustrating, and meditation may help you ease the angst you
experience.

Who Should Use Alternative Therapies?

Most of
these can be used in conjunction with other therapies. In fact many doctors and
therapists will recommend a multidimensional approach to beating your
addiction.

Group or Individual Counseling

The use of
medication (nicotine-replacement therapies included) more than doubles your
likelihood for success. But study after study also shows the importance of
therapy and counseling when fighting an addiction.

How Does It Work?

Counseling
provides you the opportunity to ask questions, learn from others’ experiences,
and prepare for the next stage of your journey.

Who Should Use Counseling?

Almost
everyone can benefit from some type of counseling or support when trying to
quit smoking. Whether it is one-on-one with a therapist or in a group setting
with fellow future nonsmokers, it is important to talk to others about what you
are experiencing and ask for the additional accountability you will need to see
your journey through to the end.

This feature is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the care and information received from your health care provider. Please consult a health care professional with any health concerns you may have.